Libraries

[bunn]

 Caught a section on the radio earlier today about the library closure protests. They were saying: use them or lose them. 

This is a call to action that works well for, say, local pubs or milkmen.  I don't think it should necessarily apply to libraries though. I live in a rural area, and am currently,  relatively time-poor and shelf-rich.  It makes sense for me to buy books rather than driving to a library during opening hours.   I am not a customer that particularly needs a library at present: in fact, using one would be something of a pain. 

However, I have certainly been shelf-poor and time-rich (or more conveniently located) in the past, and very likely will be again in future.  The fact that I am not using the library much *now* should not be interpreted as a vote to close the place!  

 I'm not using the local primary school, police station, hospital or prison either, but nobody thinks that means I never will.   Surely public services should be used primarily by those that need them, not by those that merely think that they should remain open...?

Comments

[lanciatore.livejournal.com]

"I'm not convinced. I would happily pay a levy to support my local library"

which is essentially what the IoW council are asking some people to do (see Lady of Astolat's recent post) by saying the cost of some local libraries will have to be borne out of the parish precept rather than the council tax.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Not quite the same thing, I think. Parishes don't map neatly to library coverage and the parish approach fragments things unnecessarily.

Things are silly enough here on the edge of Cornwall/Devon (because although the geographical area between Bodmin moor and Dartmoor would make far more sense in terms of population and transport, considered as a unit, because half of it is in Devon and half in Cornwall nothing is done in a joined up way. Take it down to the parishes, and I reckon it would get even messier...)

[bunn.livejournal.com]

... plus of course on Wight, there is the whole thing that some parishes get to keep their libraries, so those without them will have to pay more for less.